202 W. S. MacLeay on the Natural Arrangement of Fishes. 



spines. The following are possibly the genera which generally have 

 a tubercular appendage to the anus : — 



Ventrals not thoracic. 



1. Blennius, Linn. Ventral subjugular, consistingof only 



two rays. One dorsal. 



2. Anarriiicas, Linn. Ventrals none. One dorsal. 



3. Callionymus, LAnn. Ventrals subjugular. Two dorsals. 



Ventrals thoracic, or placed further back than the pectorals. 



4. Mugil, Linn. Mugiloides, Cuv. Ventrals separate. Caeca nume- 



rous. Two dorsals. 

 .0. Gobius, Linn. Ventrals united at base. Cascanone. 



Two dorsals, sometimes confluent 

 into one. 



By means of Callionymus, Eleotris and Chirus, we pass to the Lo- 

 phiidcB, or Amphibious Acanthopterygians, of which the known ge- 

 nera may probably be as follows ; but the truth is, that I have never 

 had an opportunity of accurately examining any of Cuvier's ' Laby- 

 rinthiform Pharyngeals.' The following genera are chiefly to be 

 ranked as families : — 



LA B YRINTHIFORM PHARYNGEALS, Cuv. Carpal bones mo ' 

 elongated. 

 ]***■*-* 



2. Anabas, Cuv. Spines in the fins ? 



3. Ophicephalus, Bl. No spines in the fins? 



PEDICLED PECTORALS, Cuv, Carpal bones elongated. 



4. Batrachus, Bl. One dorsal. 



5. Lophius, Linn. Two dorsals. 



By means of Ophicephalus we pass to the Labridce, or fleshy-lipped 

 Fistularina that have no spines on their operculum or preoperculum. 

 Their genera are probably as follows : — 



Teeth concealed by the double lips, which are large and fleshy. 



1. Labrus, Linn. Muzzle not protractile. Body not 



laterally compressed. One dorsal. 



2. Gompiiosus, Lac. Mouth protractile. One dorsal. 



3. Xyrictiiys, Cuv. Mouth not protractile. Body late- 



rally compressed. Two dorsals. 



Teeth uncovered by the lips, which are single. 



4. Acanthurus, Bl. Theutyes, Cuv. Spines arming some part of the 



body. 



5. Scarus, Linn. No spinous armature on the body. 



By means of Xyrichthys we return among the Scombridce, and so 

 complete the circle of Fistularina, which is therefore a natural tribe. 



Let us now go back to the family Gobioidcc, and by means of Go- 

 bius we can easily make the transition from the tribe Fistularina to 

 the Malacopterygian family Cyclopteridce, which forms part of the 

 tribe PLEURONECTINA, i. e. Malacopterygian fishes, which have 

 never their ventral fins abdominal. 



